Combination dump and spreader apparatus

Abstract

A vehicle is disclosed which includes a chassis and a combination body for selectively dumping and spreading materials. A hoist is provided which extends between the body and the chassis for pivoting the body. A conveyor assembly for selectively conveying materials from the body is also included. A tailgate is pivotally connected to the body and has an opening therein to permit material to be transported therethrough. A rear feed gate assembly for selectively covering the opening of the tailgate is provided. The vehicle includes a rear diverter chute that is operably arranged with the conveyor assembly to direct the materials to a rear spreader. A front feed gate assembly for selectively covering an opening of a front end of the body is provided. First and second side chutes are operably arranged with the conveyor assembly to direct materials to a side spreader and a surface, respectively.

1. A vehicle comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a combination body for selectively dumping and spreading materials, the body pivotably secured to the chassis at a hinge, the body comprised of front and rear ends and first and second side walls, and the front and rear ends defining a body length; 
 a conveyor assembly comprising an endless conveyor disposed between the sidewalls; 
 a tailgate pivotably connected to the rear end of the body and having an opening therein to permit material to be transported therethrough by the endless conveyor; 
 a hoist extending between the body, at a location between the front end and the hinge, and the chassis for pivoting the body about the hinge between first and second positions, the front end of the body being vertically higher than the rear end of the body when the body is in the second position; 
 a recess defined by the first side wall, the recess having a recess length at least over fifty percent of the body length; 
 a second recess defined by the second side wall; 
 a pair of storage tanks, wherein the recesses each accommodate one of the storage tanks, the storage tanks each being a tank for holding an amount of pre-wetting liquid; 
 a cross tube, the cross tube extending between the first and second side walls of the body; and 
 a balancing tube extending through the cross tube, the balancing tube fluidly connected to both tanks.